The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-10-26
BELcHAzzAR's FEAST.
by PERTrsAx.

Twas night In Babylon. and the full moon,
Like silver. glistened in the eastern sky;
The season of the year was balmy June.
And perfumed zephyrs were gently noat-
The night was glorious, and overhead
The stars. like gems, seemed strung on SILVER
thread.
Within tho palace walls was rovelry,
And beauty and brave men were gathered
Tho proudest scions of syrias chivalry.
Decked in thor garments rich beyond COM
And cvery soul seemed brilliant and bright,
In tone, in keeping with the rerfumed night.
BeIshaxznr sat upon a throne OF gold
Men bowed to him us IL he was IA god :;
Bravo warriors, who in the field were bold.
Shook like girl at the Kings angry nod
Bslshazzar was tyrant. and his breath
Docroed ut will the greatest subjects death.
Belshazzar feasted with his concubines
The richest wines OF Syria freely flowed:
Gay forms were decked with rubies from the
mines
That Nature had on Syria bestowed;
So lavish had the hand OF Nature been,
No feast like this on the whole earth was seen.
The feast was tagging, when Belshazzar cried
Bring forth the sacred vessels, NIL them high
With the best wines within my vaults ospied
Tonight we drink, tomorrow we may die.
mean the vessels sacred 10 the Lord
The prizes taken by my fathers sword.
when my great father TO Judeu won't,
And killed the Israelito with spear and sword,
He brought the people captive to his tent
And spoiled the temple built unto tho Lord;
My gracious father did whate or he pleased-
He ali the golden holy vessels seized.
Our god great Baal. hath never been de-
His votaries flourish like the Syrian date;
His temples affairs mover wore dehled-
He was. no is, tho arbiter OF fate
Fill you the sacred goblets to the brim,
honor
The blessed vessels Solomon had made
Were brought in hlled with the rich syrian
And ali their stored beauty was displayed
Unto the gaze OF each foul concubine,
Who tempted Heaven by actions so unwise
Nothing should shock-nothing should cause
surprise.
The King had seized the cup, and his full lips
Had almost tasted the red wine within il;
He sees sight his senses doth eclipse;
he reels staggers, and falls down that minute
What was it mado him lose his brains com
mand?
He saw writing an unattended hand.
He gazed. with palsy shook. the courtiers eyes
Followed the line of vision TO the wall
They saw the hand still writing. aud surprise
And fear their braven senses did appali.
what is the meaning of this dreadful thing?
Does it mean death to us. or to the King?
Bring in the magi. Let them the writing
Let them decipher what the writings mean. 7"
Then from the banquet hall the guests did fee,
O'ercOme with terror ut the unusual scene
The magi came ana looked, but could not tell
Whence came the words, from Heaven or from
He'll.
One came unto the King and thus he spoke:
There is in Babylon foreign youth
He is Jew mis- VOWS he never broke;
He worships God, and always speaks the
truth.
I think. oh King. that he could tell TO thee
What means tho writing on the wall we see"
Daniel was brought within the banquet hail.
He saw the writing and was sore amazed;
He read the words translated upon the wall,
Then on the King he, sorrowing, mournful,
gazed.
And said: -Oh, King. this fateful message roads
Thou and thy house are given unto the
Medes'
Belshazzars days were numbered at that time !;
Goods" vengeance was decreed against his
head
He had been tried and found guilty Of crime
Whom God" condemns may be accounted
dead.
The next days sun saw Babylon city ta'en
The King and all his family were slain.